ilkleyram

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

You’re probably right but this latest action feels as if it could be seismically shifting of the game itself, whichever way it goes.
The soul of the game in the sense of relatively equal competition that allowed, for example, us as an East Midland club with a proud and long history to reach the pinnacle of the game in this country and, importantly, stay there for several years, is long gone. Likely never to return. When clubs are owned by countries and extraordinarily wealthy ones at that, with aims of a financial free for all and overturning the status quo, ignoring the rules that don’t suit, then the whole sport had better be wary. Today the PL, tomorrow UEFA, the day after FIFA, or control of their competitions anyway.
If the PL lose then the domination of the wealthy few gets worse and worse; if they win they will not only create the most godforsaken administrative mess as they work out who really won what over the last 10 years (and generate endless other disputes in the process) but they will also have to cede authority in a number of areas to keep the other major players happy; if it’s a PR draw, and all the charges are dropped, then the richest get stronger.
I am so glad I have lived my era, seen my football, seen a game and sport with some reasonable approximation of soul.

I would take him back.  I think we saw some promising moments with him and he clearly fits the age/pace/good human characteristics elements. And he knows the club, and the demands. So far so good.
His injury record being the problem which I would mitigate not on a play for pay contract but a limited contract renewal in our favour  eg one year with a second year dependant on numbers of games played, bonuses based on appearances as well as goals etc. In the end he may have clubs willing to take more of a risk than us financially - he has a good reputation in a position that’s in short supply and therefore valuable. But if we want him enough he appeared to enjoy his time with us so that may work in our favour. 

My recollection is of Charlie being clattered - a technical term meaning deliberately taken out - by Denis Smith who had been trying to get close to Charlie all evening without success until that point. 
With Charlie’s injury went our very realistic hopes of the double that season such was his form and influence. A time when doing the double assured a club of footballing immortality so hard was it to achieve. 
Charlie was a football genius and was playing that season at a level to match that description. Denis Smith struggled to match a description of footballer. 

Much as I liked Lewis Dobbin as a player for us if he really, truly got a pay rise of £31k per week over and above anything he got with us then no wonder Everton, the PL, football generally in the UK is a financial shambles.

Much as I liked Lewis Dobbin as a player for us if he really, truly got a pay rise of £31k per week over and above anything he got with us then no wonder Everton, the PL, football generally in the UK is a financial shambles.

Much as I liked Lewis Dobbin as a player for us if he really, truly got a pay rise of £31k per week over and above anything he got with us then no wonder Everton, the PL, football generally in the UK is a financial shambles.

My recollection is of Charlie being clattered - a technical term meaning deliberately taken out - by Denis Smith who had been trying to get close to Charlie all evening without success until that point. 
With Charlie’s injury went our very realistic hopes of the double that season such was his form and influence. A time when doing the double assured a club of footballing immortality so hard was it to achieve. 
Charlie was a football genius and was playing that season at a level to match that description. Denis Smith struggled to match a description of footballer. 

Much as I liked Lewis Dobbin as a player for us if he really, truly got a pay rise of £31k per week over and above anything he got with us then no wonder Everton, the PL, football generally in the UK is a financial shambles.

My recollection is of Charlie being clattered - a technical term meaning deliberately taken out - by Denis Smith who had been trying to get close to Charlie all evening without success until that point. 
With Charlie’s injury went our very realistic hopes of the double that season such was his form and influence. A time when doing the double assured a club of footballing immortality so hard was it to achieve. 
Charlie was a football genius and was playing that season at a level to match that description. Denis Smith struggled to match a description of footballer. 

My recollection is of Charlie being clattered - a technical term meaning deliberately taken out - by Denis Smith who had been trying to get close to Charlie all evening without success until that point. 
With Charlie’s injury went our very realistic hopes of the double that season such was his form and influence. A time when doing the double assured a club of footballing immortality so hard was it to achieve. 
Charlie was a football genius and was playing that season at a level to match that description. Denis Smith struggled to match a description of footballer. 

My recollection is of Charlie being clattered - a technical term meaning deliberately taken out - by Denis Smith who had been trying to get close to Charlie all evening without success until that point. 
With Charlie’s injury went our very realistic hopes of the double that season such was his form and influence. A time when doing the double assured a club of footballing immortality so hard was it to achieve. 
Charlie was a football genius and was playing that season at a level to match that description. Denis Smith struggled to match a description of footballer. 

My recollection is of Charlie being clattered - a technical term meaning deliberately taken out - by Denis Smith who had been trying to get close to Charlie all evening without success until that point. 
With Charlie’s injury went our very realistic hopes of the double that season such was his form and influence. A time when doing the double assured a club of footballing immortality so hard was it to achieve. 
Charlie was a football genius and was playing that season at a level to match that description. Denis Smith struggled to match a description of footballer. 

Much as I liked Lewis Dobbin as a player for us if he really, truly got a pay rise of £31k per week over and above anything he got with us then no wonder Everton, the PL, football generally in the UK is a financial shambles.

Aka the Brian Clough approach to player selection. Which worked out pretty well if I recall.